73 Dark Eldar

"Exterminate the Eldar?"

Hades's gaze fell upon the Eldar Mother Goddess. There were two conditions for Slaanesh's downfall: either all Eldar died, or all five Crone Swords were gathered—after which the Eldar god of Death would awaken.

In Eldar prophecy, the Eldar god of Death would be the deity to kill Slaanesh.

"Sounds good," Hades said. "But I think it might be difficult? Old Mal, the Imperium shouldn't be able to spare too many troops to attack the Eldar right now."

Malcador shook his head. The old man's cloudy gaze flicked toward Isha, who was sobbing soundlessly nearby.

"Underking," he said hoarsely, "we now possess the Eldar Mother Goddess. She has an extremely strong connection to the Eldar's rebirth."

Malcador watched Hades, trying to read something from the Underking's face. Unfortunately, the Underking still wore that same expression—was he really thinking seriously?

"Go on," Hades said.

"A little Warp connection," Malcador said softly. "You should not waste this opportunity. We can curse this fractured race, make rebirth increasingly scarce until it vanishes entirely."

Hades blinked. That might have been one way—but he would not hand the sword's hilt to Malcador.

"I'm a Psychic Power muggle," Hades said. "Are you sure that'll work? Eldar live incredibly long lives, not to mention their spirit stones."

Even after death, Eldar souls did not dissipate. They remained within spirit stones. Perhaps, to the Eldar, death itself was more indistinct.

"You can't. You can't do this."

Before Malcador could speak, the voice beside them interrupted. Isha gasped urgently, "looking" toward the two humans, yet unable to say anything.

Malcador sneered. He rose arrogantly and stepped directly onto the altar.

"Of course we can."

Hades focused entirely on Malcador. If there was even the slightest change in the Psychic Power flow of Mortarion's altar, he would